Strut for automatic sprinklers.



F. A. HOWARTH & W. W. ARMOUR.

STRUT FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. ms.

L%@$,%1 Y Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

iii/A ATENT FRANCIS A. HOWARTI-I AND WILLIAM W. ARMOUR, OF WORCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS;

SAID ARMOUR ASSIGNOR TO SAID HOWARTI-I.

STRUT FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 19 18.

Application filed November 29, 1915. Serial No. 64,163.

1" b all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FRANCIS A. HowAn'rHand lVrLLL-iiu: W. ARMOUR, both citizens of the United States, residingat Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Strut forAutomatic Sprinklers, of which the following is a specificationaccompanied by drawings, forming a part of the same.

The object of our present invention is to provide a collapsible strutfor closing the nozzle in a sprinkler head in which the con struction issimplified, and its operation rendered more accurate and certain. Weaccomplish this object, among others, by the construction andarrangement of parts as hereinafter described, the novel features beingpointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a front view of a sprinkler head embodying ourinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of our improved strut removed from the sprinklerhead.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the two component parts of ourimproved strut.

Fig. 6 is a detached view of the locking piece. 7

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the differentfigures.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 denotes a screwthreaded nozzleadapted to be applied to a water supply pipe, the opening through thenozzle being closed by a cap 2 which is held in place by a pressureapplied by means of a screw 3 through the interposition. of a strut 4.The screw 3 is held in an internally threaded hub 5 supported upon thenozzle by arms 6, 6. Supported by the framework of the sprinkler head isa water distributor 7 having a notched or serrated periphery againstwhicha stream of water when released from the nozzle 1 strikes and isdistributed in a spray over a comparatively large area surrounding the Isprinkler head.

The strut 4, to which our present invention relates, comprises two parts8 and 9, each formed ofsheet metal and of uniform thickness throughoutits length. Each of the parts 8 and 9 is therefore adapted to be formedfrom sheet metal at a single opera-.

tion in a drop press'by means of suitable punches and dies, therebymaterially reducing the cost of manufacture. The part 8 of the strut isoffset at 10 to form a curved shoulder 11 against which the curvedupperend of the part 9 contacts. The upper end of the part 8 is provided witha laterally eX- tended flange 12. The part 9 contacts throughout itsentire length with the part 8 and its lower end is provided with alaterally extended flange 13. The flange 12 is recessed at 14 to receivethe tip 15 of the screw 3 and the flange 13 is recessed at 16 to receivethe tip 17 of the cap 2, said reoesses l4 and 16 being in alinement andslightly offset to one side of the shoulder 11. An opening 18 is formedin the part 8 having its lower wall beveled, as shown at 19, Figs. 3 and4, and the part 9 is provided with an opening 20 in alinement with theopening 18, and having its lower wall beveled, as shown at 21, Figs. 3and 5. In stamping the pieces 8 and 9 to form the openings 18 and 20, aportion of the metal of each is turned outwardly to form flanges 22 onthe part 8 and 23 on the part 9. The two pieces 8 and 9 are placed incontact in theposition shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and a locking piece 24 isinserted through the openings 18 and 20. The locking piece 24 isprovided with a if-shaped notch 25 on its lower edge fitting the beveledsurfaces 19 and 21. The space between the upper edge 26 of the lookingpiece 24 and the flanges 22 and 23 are filled with a fusible metal bar27, said bar being fusible at a predetermined de ree of heat usuallyabout 160. The pre. sure exerted upon the flange 12 is received upon thecap 2 when the parts 8 and 9 have been united by the locking piece 24and the fusible bar 27, but a strain is imparted to the piece 8 to moveits lower end in the direction of the arrow 28, Fig. 2. As soon as thefusible bar 27 is melted,the locking piece 24 is allowed to rise,permitting the movement of the part 8 in the direction of the arrow 28,thereby collapsing the strut and releasing the cap 2.

We claim;

1. A strut for an automatic sprinkler, comprising separate membersnormally held in contact, but separable by a rocking movement of onemember about the end of the other member as a fulcrum and each memherhaving a beveled surface, a locking piece passing through both of saidmembers and engaging the beveled surface on each of said members, andfusible means for holding said locking piece in position.

, 2. A strut for an automatic sprinkler, comprising two separate membersnormally held in contact but separable by a longitudinal strain appliedto the strut, said members having alined openings, each of said openingshaving oppositely inclined walls on corresponding sides of the openingformin a salient angle, a locking piece held in said openings, andhaving a notched side fitting said oppositely inclined sides of saidopenings, and means fusible at a predetermined temperature for holdingsaid locking piece in position.

A strut for an automatic sprinkler comprising two members normally heldin contact but separable by a longitudinal strain applied to the ends ofthe strut, whereby a swinging movement is imparted to one member aboutthe end of the other member, said members having alined openings andoppositely extendedfianges' above said openings, a locking piece held insaid openings, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for projecting beyond saidmembers, and a fusible bar held between said locking piece and saidflanges.

A strut for an automatic sprinkler, comprising two members normally heldin contact, but separable by a longitudinal strain applied to the axisof the strut, said members being formed of sheet metal and having atopposite ends of the strut flanges extending in the same direction, saidmembers having alined openings, with the lower wall of said openingsbeveled in opposite directions to form a salient angle, a locking piecehaving a V-shaped notch engaging said angular wall of the openings, butof loss width than the width of said openings, and a fusible materialfilling the remainder of said openings.

Dated this 23rd day of November, 1915.

FRANCIS A. HOlVARTH. lVILLIAh l W. ARMOUR.

Witnesses PnNnLorn Coamnnmon, NELLIE VVHALEN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

